Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Background Values by Andy Scheer

If you want your fiction
to drive home a message, consider not making it your story's focus.

The past few weeks, I've
re-visited the mysteries in Aaron Elkins's series with forensic
anthropologist Gideon Oliver. Reflecting on them, I see several
themes.

Foremost, as with any
classic mystery, there's a quest for justice and a restoration of
shalom.

But
other chords resonate. With their use of recurring characters, I
sense of the value of friendship. I see the pleasures of exotic
travel, well-prepared food, and the comforts of home.

Must
underneath runs an even stronger testament to the worth of a great
marriage. These aren't romance novels, but they resonate with
glimpses of a married couple deeply in love. Gideon and Julie argue,
they reconcile, they share ideas and chores. But especially they
complete one another's lives – serving as models of mutuality that
surpass even the best sermon on Ephesians 5.

There's
nothing threatening for a reader whose marriage fires don't burn as
warmly. Just an invitation to enjoy the glow with your own partner.

9 comments:

Has there ever been a message-driven novel that truly succeeded? Seems to me that the story swirling around the characters must be top priority in each case and that, as you suggest, any messages must take a back seat.

As I kid, I received a couple of message-driven novels. Seems to me that I skipped whole pages when the author mounted the soapbox. Not that the message was wrong, but I was there for an adventure, not a sermon.

Hmmm...Rick, I see your point, but I think we can deliver a message without the soapbox. I grew up on Clancy. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan expressed a devotion to family and their marriage without taking away from the action. Another thing I noticed about Clancy's books was that his servicemen were absolute professionals when it came to their duties. Now, I was a sailor, and I can assure you that wasn't always the case. But reading those characters made me want to be a better sailor, and to this day I admire their professionalism. So, yes, I believe we can express some moral messages without turning off the reader.

Ron, I'm right there with you, and I believe we're both in accord with Andy's points. Nothing wrong with messages in literature. An author with a Christian worldview shouldn't try to strip away that worldview. The point I failed to make clear was that a message can be applied artistically, with brush strokes rather than a sledge hammer. Hey, I've seen you around the web and appreciate your input. Blessings.

For his Gideon Oliver forensic anthropology mysteries, "Curses" is great fun, and "Old Bones" won an Edgar award. For fans of the new film "Monuments Men," the Aaron Elkins novel "Turncoat" provides a solid plot involving recovery of art stolen in WWII. General market fiction, but few caveats for CBA readers.

Love this post. The stories that stick with me over time are never preachy, but the characters' lives & choices make an impression (good or bad). Most classics HAVE messages, be they allegorical or less in-your-face, but they're generally not summed up neatly in an out-of-context monologue by one character. They're demonstrated through the story itself.

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Joyce Hart, owner and principal agent of Hartline Literary Agency has been a literary agent for more than a decade. She was formerly the vice president of marketing of an inspirational publishing company and as the president of Hartline Marketing has nearly thirty-two years of successful experience marketing and promoting books. Joyce has been a pioneer in selling high-quality fiction to the inspirational market and has built an excellent rapport with leading inspirational publishers. A member of ACFW, and the National Association of Professional Women, Joyce is a graduate of Open Bible College, Des Moines, IA now merged with Eugene Bible College in Eugene, Oregon. Joyce is based at Hartline Literary's Pittsburgh headquarters.

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Jim Hart is looking for authors who can write unique and engaging fictional suspense, romance, women’s fiction, historical fiction and some sci-fi. Jim is also interested in non-fiction regarding church growth, Christian living, and self-help. Keep in mind that non-fiction topics require a certain level of credentials, experience and expertise. The author will need an appropriate platform to present a non-fiction proposal.

Currently Jim is not looking at children’s, young adult or Biblical fiction proposals.

He holds a degree in Production Journalism and worked for twenty years in direct mail advertising before taking a job with an urban social services agency, where he worked for twelve years. All during his professional career, Jim has served with the local church doing youth ministry and music/worship ministry. He is a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God, and serves part-time as Worship Pastor in his local church in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

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Linda is an experienced editor, reviewer and writer, and for a couple of years was a final reader for Wild Rose Press, then for White Rose Publishing and she worked as an editorial assistant for Hartline Agent Terry Burns. She has judged for numerous contests including the Genesis for the American Christian Fiction Writers, as well as the Emily Award for the West Houston Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. She has been on the faculty for Faithwriters.com annual conference, Maranatha, and is slated for numerous others in 2013. Linda understands writers because she's a writer herself with 4 books releasing in 2013.linda@hartlineliterary.comhttp://lindaglaz.blogspot.com/

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Andy has a wealth of experience as a publishing professional with over 18 years as the managing editor of Moody Magazine, 8 years as the managing editor for the Christian Writer’s Guild, and as a free-lance writer and editor. He is a frequent instructor at writing conferences around the country. A journalism graduate from Colorado State University, he also attended Denver Seminary. Andy is a consummate professional and will be a great addition to the Hartline team.